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List of U.S. county name etymologies (S–Z)

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This is a list of U.S. county name etymologies, covering the letters S to Z.

S

[edit]
County name State Origin
Sabine County Texas Named for the Sabine River (from Spanish sabina, "cypress")
Sabine Parish Louisiana
Sac County Iowa Named for the Sauk (Sac) people
Sacramento County California Named for the city of Sacramento, California, itself named after the sacrament of the Eucharist
Sagadahoc County Maine From an Abenaki word meaning "mouth of the big river;" referring to the Kennebec River.
Saginaw County Michigan Uncertain; probably from Ojibwe words meaning "place of the outlet": sag (opening) + ong (place of).
Saguache County Colorado From a Ute word, "Sa-gua-gua-chi-pa", which roughly translated to "Blue Earth" and referred to clear blue waters from springs in the county.
City of Salem Virginia Named for Salem, New Jersey, in honor of William Bryan, who had moved from there.
Salem County New Jersey From Salem, a town mentioned in the Old Testament, from Hebrew shalom, "peace"; also from Salem Tenth, an early division of colonial West Jersey.
Saline County Arkansas Named for the salt water (brine) springs in the area.
Saline County Illinois Named for the Saline River (a tributary of the Ohio River).
Saline County Kansas Named for the Saline River (a tributary of the Smoky Hill River).
Saline County Missouri Named for the salt water (brine) springs in the area.
Saline County Nebraska Named for a belief held by the early pioneers that great salt springs and deposits could be found in the area, a hope found to be false.
Salt Lake County Utah Named for the Great Salt Lake.
Saluda County South Carolina Named for the Saluda River, named for a Native American tribe that lived along it (also Seleuda, Salutah).
Sampson County North Carolina Named for John Sampson, politician.
San Augustine County Texas Named for the town of San Augustine, Texas, named for the Presidio de San Agustín de Ahumada, named for Agustín de Ahumada, 2nd Marquess of Amarillas.
San Benito County California Named for the San Benito River, named in turn for Saint Benedict of Nursia.
San Bernardino County California Named for the San Bernardino Valley, named for San Bernardino de Sena Estancia, named in turn for Bernardino of Siena.
San Diego County California Named for Saint Didacus of Alcalá.
City and County of San Francisco California From Mission San Francisco de Asís, a Spanish mission located in what is now the city's Mission District and named for Francis of Assisi.
San Jacinto County Texas Named for the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place near the San Jacinto River, named for Saint Hyacinth of Caesarea.
San Joaquin County California Named for the San Joaquin River, named for Joachim, father of Mary, mother of Jesus.
San Juan County Colorado Named for the San Juan River, named for John the Baptist.
San Juan County New Mexico
San Juan County Utah
San Juan County Washington Named for the San Juan Islands.
San Luis Obispo County California Named for the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa ("Mission of Saint Louis, Bishop of Toulouse"), named in turn for Louis of Toulouse.
San Mateo County California Named for Saint Matthew.
San Miguel County Colorado Named for the San Miguel River, which runs through the county.
San Miguel County New Mexico Named for the church at San Miguel del Vado, Spanish for "Saint Michael of the ford."
San Patricio County Texas Named for Saint Patrick; the original settlers were Irish Catholics.
San Saba County Texas Named for the San Saba River, which was named for Saint Sabbas the Sanctified.
Sanborn County South Dakota Named for George W. Sanborn, president of the Milwaukee Railroad.
Sanders County Montana Named for Wilbur Fiske Sanders, pioneer and U.S. Senator.
Sandoval County New Mexico Named for the Sandoval family, 17th-century landowners.
Sandusky County Ohio Named for the Sandusky River, from Wyandot saandusti, "water (within water-pools)"; or andusti, "cold water".
Sangamon County Illinois Named for the Sangamon River, from Pottawatomie Sain-guee-mon meaning "where there is plenty to eat."
Sanilac County Michigan Named for Sanilac, a Wyandot (Huron) chief.
Sanpete County Utah Named for Sanpitch, a Ute chief.
Santa Barbara County California Named for Santa Barbara, California, named for the Santa Barbara Channel, named for Saint Barbara.
Santa Clara County California Named for Santa Clara, California, named for the Mission Santa Clara de Asís, itself named for Saint Clare of Assisi.
Santa Cruz County Arizona Named for the Santa Cruz River. ("Holy Cross" in Spanish)
Santa Cruz County California Named for Santa Cruz, California, named for the Mission Santa Cruz, itself named for Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Santa Fe County New Mexico Named for Santa Fe, New Mexico, from the Spanish for "holy faith."
Santa Rosa County Florida Named for Saint Rose of Viterbo.
Sarasota County Florida Named for Sarasota, Florida, first recorded as Zarazote, of uncertain origin.
Saratoga County New York From Iroquois sah-rah-ka, "the hill beside the river"
Sargent County North Dakota Named for H. E. Sargent, railroad executive.
Sarpy County Nebraska Named for Peter A. Sarpy, fur trader and businessman.
Sauk County Wisconsin Named for the Sauk people.
Saunders County Nebraska Named for Alvin Saunders, governor of the Nebraska Territory.
Sawyer County Wisconsin Named for Philetus Sawyer, politician.
Schenectady County New York Named for Schenectady, New York, from the Mohawk skahnéhtati, "beyond the pines."
Schleicher County Texas Named for Gustav Schleicher, engineer, politician and Confederate soldier.
Schley County Georgia Named for William Schley, lawyer, jurist, and politician.
Schoharie County New York Named for Schoharie, New York, from the Mohawk skoharle, "driftwood."
Schoolcraft County Michigan Named for Henry Schoolcraft, geographer, geologist, and ethnologist.
Schuyler County Illinois Named for Philip Schuyler, Revolutionary War general and U.S. Senator.
Schuyler County Missouri
Schuyler County New York
Schuylkill County Pennsylvania Named for the Schuylkill River, from Dutch meaning "hidden river" or "sheltered creek."
Scioto County Ohio Named for the Scioto River, from Wyandot skɛnǫ·tǫ, "deer."
Scotland County Missouri Named for Scotland.
Scotland County North Carolina
Scott County Iowa Named for General Winfield Scott.
Scott County Kansas
Scott County Minnesota
Scott County Tennessee
Scott County Virginia
Scott County Indiana Named for Charles Scott, 4th Governor of Kentucky.
Scott County Kentucky
Scott County Arkansas Named for Andrew Scott, judge.
Scott County Illinois Named for Scott County, Kentucky.
Scott County Mississippi Named for Abram M. Scott, 7th Governor of Mississippi.
Scott County Missouri Named for John Scott, politician.
Scotts Bluff County Nebraska Named for Scotts Bluff, named for mountain man and trapper Hiram Scott.
Screven County Georgia Named for General James Screven, Revolutionary War soldier.
Scurry County Texas Named for William Read Scurry, Confederate general.
Searcy County Arkansas Named for Richard Searcy, first clerk and judge in the Arkansas Territory.
Sebastian County Arkansas Named for William K. Sebastian, U.S. Senator.
Sedgwick County Colorado Named for Fort Sedgwick, an Army post itself named for Civil War general John Sedgwick.
Sedgwick County Kansas Named for Civil War general John Sedgwick.
Seminole County Florida Named for the Seminole people.
Seminole County Georgia
Seminole County Oklahoma
Seneca County New York Named for the Seneca people.
Seneca County Ohio
Sequatchie County Tennessee From a Cherokee chief, whose name was from Cherokee siqua utsetsisti, "opossum, he grins or runs".
Sequoyah County Oklahoma Named for Sequoyah, Cherokee linguist.
Sevier County Arkansas Named for Ambrose Hundley Sevier, politician.
Sevier County Tennessee Named for John Sevier (1745–1815), governor of the State of Franklin and first Governor of Tennessee.
Sevier County Utah Named for the Sevier River (Spanish: Río Severo, "harsh river").
Seward County Kansas Named for William H. Seward, U.S. Secretary of State and opponent of slavery.
Seward County Nebraska
Shackelford County Texas Named for Jack Shackelford, doctor and soldier of the Texas Revolution.
Shannon County Missouri Named for George Shannon, explorer on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Sharkey County Mississippi Named for William L. Sharkey, 25th Governor of Mississippi.
Sharp County Arkansas Named for Ephraim Sharp, a state legislator.
Shasta County California Named for Mount Shasta, named in turn for the Shasta people.
Shawano County Wisconsin From Sawanoh, a Menominee chief.
Shawnee County Kansas Named for the Shawnee people.
Sheboygan County Wisconsin Named for the Sheboygan River, from Chippewa Shawb-wa-way-gun, meaning "hollow bone", "noise underground" or "river disappearing underground."
Shelby County Alabama Named for Isaac Shelby, soldier and politician.
Shelby County Illinois
Shelby County Indiana
Shelby County Iowa
Shelby County Kentucky
Shelby County Missouri
Shelby County Ohio
Shelby County Tennessee
Shelby County Texas
Shenandoah County Virginia Named for the Shenandoah River, named for the Senedo people.
Sherburne County Minnesota Named for Moses Sherburne, politician and judge.
Sheridan County Kansas Named for Philip Sheridan, U.S. Army general.
Sheridan County Montana
Sheridan County Nebraska
Sheridan County North Dakota
Sheridan County Wyoming
Sherman County Kansas Named for Founding Father Roger Sherman.
Sherman County Nebraska
Sherman County Oregon
Sherman County Texas
Shiawassee County Michigan Named for the Shiawassee River, from the Chippewa shia-was-see, "river straight ahead."
Shoshone County Idaho Named for the Shoshone people.
Sibley County Minnesota Named for Henry Hastings Sibley, first Governor of Minnesota.
Sierra County California Named for the Sierra Nevada ("snowy jagged mountain range").
Sierra County New Mexico Named for the Black Range (Spanish: Sierra Diablo).
Silver Bow County Montana Named for the Silver Bow Creek, named for how it sparkled in the sun.
Simpson County Kentucky Named for John Simpson, soldier and politician.
Simpson County Mississippi Named for Josiah Simpson, judge.
Sioux County Iowa Named for the Sioux (Oceti Sakowin) people.
Sioux County Nebraska
Sioux County North Dakota
Siskiyou County California Named for the Siskiyou Trail, of unclear origin: Chinook Jargon for "bob-tailed horse," or French six callioux, "six stones."
Sitka City and Borough Alaska From Tlingit Shee At'iká, "people on the outside of Baranof Island."
Skagit County Washington Named for the Skagit peoples.
Skamania County Washington From the Cascades Chinook sk'mániak, "swift waters."
Slope County North Dakota Named for the Missouri Slope, a geographical feature.
Smith County Kansas Named for J. Nelson Smith, Union soldier in the Civil War.
Smith County Mississippi Named for David Smith, Revolutionary War major.
Smith County Tennessee Named for Revolutionary War officer and U.S. Senator Daniel Smith
Smith County Texas Named for James Smith, a general during the Texas Revolution.
Smyth County Virginia Named for Alexander Smyth, politician.
Snohomish County Washington Named for the Snohomish River and the Snohomish people.
Snyder County Pennsylvania Named for Simon Snyder, third Governor of Pennsylvania.
Socorro County New Mexico Named for Socorro, New Mexico, from the Spanish socorro, "help, aid."
Solano County California Named for Sem-Yeto, Suisun chief baptized as Francisco Solano.
Somerset County Maine Named for Somerset, England.
Somerset County Maryland Named for Mary, Lady Somerset, wife of Sir John Somerset and daughter of Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour.
Somerset County New Jersey Named for Somerset, England.
Somerset County Pennsylvania
Somervell County Texas Named for Alexander Somervell, Secretary of War of the Republic of Texas.
Sonoma County California Named for the city of Sonoma, California, from the Miwok sonoma, "many moons."
Southampton County Virginia Named for either Southampton, England, or Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton.
Southeast Fairbanks Census Area Alaska Named for its location to the southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska
Spalding County Georgia Named for Thomas Spalding, politician.
Spartanburg County South Carolina Named for Spartanburg, South Carolina, from a local militia called the Spartan Regiment in the Revolutionary War.
Spencer County Indiana Named for Spier Spencer, soldier.
Spencer County Kentucky
Spink County South Dakota Named for S. L. Spink, politician.
Spokane County Washington Named for the Spokane people.
Spotsylvania County Virginia Named for Alexander Spotswood, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.
St. Bernard Parish Louisiana Named for Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, who was the patron saint of colonial administrator Bernardo de Gálvez, 1st Viscount of Galveston.
St. Charles County Missouri Named for Saint Charles Borromeo.
St. Charles Parish Louisiana
St. Clair County Alabama Named for Arthur St. Clair, major general in the Revolutionary War and first Governor of the Northwest Territory.
St. Clair County Illinois
St. Clair County Michigan Named for Lake St. Clair, named in honor of Saint Clare of Assisi.
St. Clair County Missouri Named for Arthur St. Clair, major general in the Revolutionary War and first Governor of the Northwest Territory.
St. Croix County Wisconsin Named for the St. Croix River.
St. Francis County Arkansas Named for the St. Francis River.
St. Francois County Missouri
St. Helena Parish Louisiana Named for Saint Helena.
St. James Parish Louisiana Named for Saint James.
St. John the Baptist Parish Louisiana Named for John the Baptist.
St. Johns County Florida Named for the San Juan del Puerto mission ("Saint John of the Port").
St. Joseph County Indiana Named for the St. Joseph River.
St. Joseph County Michigan Named for Fort St. Joseph in Niles, which was named for Saint Joseph.
St. Landry Parish Louisiana Named for St. Landry Catholic Church, named in honor of Saint Landry of Paris (Landericus).
St. Lawrence County New York Named for the Saint Lawrence River, named in honor of Saint Lawrence.
City of St. Louis Missouri Named for Saint Louis (King Louis IX of France).
St. Louis County Minnesota Named for the Saint Louis River, named by Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye after the Order of Saint Louis that he received.
St. Louis County Missouri Named for Saint Louis (King Louis IX of France).
St. Lucie County Florida Named for the St. Lucie Inlet, named in turn for Saint Lucy.
St. Martin Parish Louisiana Named for Saint Martin of Tours.
St. Mary Parish Louisiana Named for Mary, mother of Jesus.
St. Mary's County Maryland Named for St. Mary's City, Maryland, named in honor of Mary, mother of Jesus.
St. Tammany Parish Louisiana Named for Tamanend, a Lenni-Lenape chief in the Delaware Valley during the 17th century who made peace with William Penn.
Stafford County Kansas Named for Lewis Stafford, Union soldier in the Civil War.
Stafford County Virginia Named for Staffordshire, England.
Stanislaus County California Named for the Stanislaus River, named in turn for Estanislao, a Lakisamni leader.
Stanley County South Dakota Named for David S. Stanley, Union Army Civil War general.
Stanly County North Carolina Named for John Stanly, politician.
Stanton County Kansas Named for Edwin Stanton, U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of War.
Stanton County Nebraska
City of Staunton Virginia Named for Lady Rebecca Staunton, wife of Virginia colonial governor Sir William Gooch, 1st Baronet.
Stark County Illinois Named for John Stark, general in the Revolutionary War.
Stark County North Dakota Named for George Stark, a vice president of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
Stark County Ohio Named for John Stark, general in the Revolutionary War.
Starke County Indiana
Starr County Texas Named for James Harper Starr, director of the postal service of the Trans-Mississippi Department.
Ste. Genevieve County Missouri Named for Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, named for Saint Genevieve.
Stearns County Minnesota Named for Charles Thomas Stearns, politician.
Steele County Minnesota Named for Franklin Steele, early settler.
Steele County North Dakota Named for Edward H. Steele, businessman.
Stephens County Georgia Named for Alexander Stephens, Vice President of the Confederate States of America.
Stephens County Oklahoma Named for John Hall Stephens, Texas politician.
Stephens County Texas Named for Alexander Stephens, Vice President of the Confederate States of America.
Stephenson County Illinois Named for Benjamin Stephenson, politician.
Sterling County Texas Named for W. S. Sterling, an early settler.
Steuben County Indiana Named for Baron Frederick von Steuben, an officer of the Revolutionary War.
Steuben County New York
Stevens County Kansas Named for Thaddeus Stevens, politician.
Stevens County Minnesota Named for Isaac Stevens, soldier and first Governor of Washington Territory.
Stevens County Washington
Stewart County Georgia Named for General Daniel Stewart.
Stewart County Tennessee Named for Duncan Stewart, Tennessee state legislator and lieutenant governor of Mississippi Territory.
Stillwater County Montana Named for the Stillwater River.
Stoddard County Missouri Named for Amos Stoddard, soldier.
Stokes County North Carolina Named for John Stokes, judge.
Stone County Arkansas Named for its rocky terrain.
Stone County Mississippi Named for John Marshall Stone, 31st and 33rd Governor of Mississippi.
Stone County Missouri Named for William Stone, early settler.
Stonewall County Texas Named for Lieutenant General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson
Storey County Nevada Named for Edward Farris Storey, Nevada settler killed by Paiute.
Story County Iowa Named for Joseph Story, a preeminent United States Supreme Court Justice.
Strafford County New Hampshire Named for William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford, English nobleman.
Stutsman County North Dakota Named for Enos Stutsman, lawyer and politician.
Sublette County Wyoming Named for William Sublette, mountain man and fur trapper.
City of Suffolk Virginia Named for Suffolk, England.
Suffolk County Massachusetts
Suffolk County New York
Sullivan County Indiana Named for Daniel Sullivan, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
Sullivan County Missouri Named for John Sullivan, General in the Revolutionary War and Governor of New Hampshire.
Sullivan County New Hampshire
Sullivan County New York
Sullivan County Pennsylvania Named for Charles C. Sullivan, politician.
Sullivan County Tennessee Named for John Sullivan, Governor of New Hampshire.
Sully County South Dakota Named for Alfred Sully, soldier.
Summers County West Virginia Named for George W. Summers, politician.
Summit County Colorado Named for the numerous mountain peaks which fill the region, including Grays Peak and Torreys Peak.
Summit County Ohio Named for the highest elevation on the Ohio and Erie Canal.
Summit County Utah Named for the summits of the Wasatch Range and Uinta Mountains.
Sumner County Kansas Named for Jethro Sumner (1733–1785), an American colonist who defended North Carolina against the British in 1780.
Sumner County Tennessee
Sumter County Alabama Named for Thomas Sumter, general in the Revolutionary War.
Sumter County Florida
Sumter County Georgia
Sumter County South Carolina
Sunflower County Mississippi Named for the Sunflower River.
Surry County North Carolina Named for Surrey, England.
Surry County Virginia
Susquehanna County Pennsylvania Named for the Susquehanna River, from Unami Sisa'we'hak'hanna, “Oyster River”
Sussex County Delaware Named for Sussex, England.
Sussex County New Jersey
Sussex County Virginia
Sutter County California Named for Sutter's Fort, built by John Sutter.
Sutton County Texas Named for John S. Sutton, Confederate officer.
Suwannee County Florida Named for the Suwannee River.
Swain County North Carolina Named for David Lowry Swain, 26th Governor of North Carolina.
Sweet Grass County Montana Named for the abundant sweet grass (Muhlenbergia sericea).
Sweetwater County Wyoming Named for the Sweetwater River.
Swift County Minnesota Named for Henry Adoniram Swift, 3rd Governor of Minnesota.
Swisher County Texas Named for James G. Swisher, a soldier of the Texas Revolution.
Switzerland County Indiana Named for Switzerland, homeland of many of the early settlers.

T

[edit]
County name State Origin
Talbot County Georgia Named for Matthew Talbot, 30th Governor of Georgia.
Talbot County Maryland Named for Grace, Lady Talbot, the wife of Sir Robert Talbot, an Irish statesman, and the sister of Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore.
Taliaferro County Georgia Named for Colonel Benjamin Taliaferro of Virginia, an officer in the American Revolution.
Talladega County Alabama The name Talladega is derived from a Muscogee (Creek) Native American word Tvlvteke, from the Creek tålwa, meaning "town", and åtigi, or "border" -- "Border Town"—a town indicating its location on the boundary between the lands of the Creek tribe and those of the Cherokee and Chickasaw.[1]
Tallahatchie County Mississippi Choctaw name meaning "rock of waters".
Tallapoosa County Alabama Name of Creek origin.
Tama County Iowa Named for Taimah, a leader of the Meskwaki.
Taney County Missouri Named in honor of Roger Brooke Taney, fifth Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Tangipahoa Parish Louisiana Tangipahoa comes from an Acolapissa word meaning "ear of corn" or "those who gather corn."
Taos County New Mexico "Place of red willows" in the Taos language.
Tarrant County Texas Named in honor of General Edward H. Tarrant.[2]
Tate County Mississippi Named for Thomas Simpson Tate, one of the first prominent settlers of the area.
Tattnall County Georgia Named for Josiah Tattnall Sr., U.S. Senator and 25th Governor of Georgia.
Taylor County Florida Named for Zachary Taylor, twelfth President of the United States of America.
Taylor County Georgia
Taylor County Iowa
Taylor County Kentucky
Taylor County Texas Named for Edward Taylor, George Taylor, and James Taylor, three brothers who died at the Battle of the Alamo.
Taylor County West Virginia Named for Sen. John Taylor of Caroline.
Taylor County Wisconsin Probably named for William Robert Taylor, 12th Governor of Wisconsin
Tazewell County Illinois Named in honor of Littleton Waller Tazewell, U.S. Senator and Governor of Virginia, and/or Littleton's father, prominent Virginia politician Henry Tazewell.
Tazewell County Virginia Named after Henry Tazewell, a United States senator from Virginia as well as a state legislator and judge.
Tehama County California Named after Tehama, California; possibly from Spanish tejamanil ("shingle"), or a Native word for "high water."
Telfair County Georgia Named for Edward Telfair, sixteenth governor of Georgia and member of the Continental Congress.
Teller County Colorado Named for Henry M. Teller, a U.S. Senator and the 15th United States Secretary of the Interior.
Tensas Parish Louisiana Derived from the Taensa people.
Terrebonne Parish Louisiana French for "good land" or "good earth".
Terrell County Georgia Named for U.S. Representative William Terrell.
Terrell County Texas Named for Texas state senator Alexander W. Terrell.
Terry County Texas Named for Benjamin Franklin Terry, a colonel in the Confederate Army.
Teton County Idaho Named after the Teton Mountains.[3]
Teton County Montana Named for the Teton River (Montana)
Teton County Wyoming Named for the Teton Range
Texas County Missouri Named after the Republic of Texas.
Texas County Oklahoma So named because it was wholly included within the limits of the Texas Cession of 1850, whereby the ownership of the area was passed from the State of Texas to the United States Government.
Thayer County Nebraska Named after the General and Governor John Milton Thayer.[4]
Thomas County Georgia Named for Jett Thomas, officer in the War of 1812; also known for overseeing the construction of the first building at the University of Georgia as well as the state capitol at Milledgeville.
Thomas County Kansas Named for George Henry Thomas, Union General in the American Civil War.
Thomas County Nebraska Named after General George H. Thomas.[5]
Throckmorton County Texas Named for William Throckmorton, an early Collin County settler.
Thurston County Nebraska Named after U.S. Senator John M. Thurston.[6]
Thurston County Washington Named after Samuel R. Thurston, the Oregon Territory's first delegate to Congress.
Tift County Georgia Named for Nelson Tift, founder of the city of Albany and United States Representative.
Tillamook County Oregon Named for the Tillamook, a Native American tribe.
Tillman County Oklahoma Benjamin Tillman, U.S. Senator and 84th Governor of South Carolina
Tioga County New York Derived from an American Indian word meaning "at the forks", describing a meeting place.
Tioga County Pennsylvania Named for the Tioga River.
Tippah County Mississippi The name "Tippah" is a Chickasaw word meaning "cut off", and is taken from the creek of the same name that flows across much of the original county from northeast to southwest before emptying into the Tallahatchie River. The creek probably was so named because it, and the ridges on either side, "cut off" the western part of the region from the eastern portion.
Tippecanoe County Indiana Named for the Tippecanoe River and the Battle of Tippecanoe.
Tipton County Indiana Tipton is named for John Tipton, a soldier of the Battle of Tippecanoe.
Tipton County Tennessee Named for Jacob Tipton, who was killed by Native Americans in a conflict over the Northwest Territory.
Tishomingo County Mississippi Tishomingo (1734–1838), a Chickasaw chieftain
Titus County Texas Named for Andrew Jackson Titus, an early settler.
Todd County Kentucky Named after John Todd, an early frontier military figure.[7]
Todd County Minnesota Named after John Blair Smith Todd, delegate from Dakota Territory to the United States House of Representatives and General in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Todd County South Dakota
Tolland County Connecticut Named for the town of Tolland, Connecticut, which itself is named after Tolland, Somerset.
Tom Green County Texas Named for Thomas Green, a Confederate brigadier general.
Tompkins County New York Named in honor of Daniel D. Tompkins, Governor of New York and Vice President of the United States of America.
Tooele County Utah It is thought that the name derives from a Native American chief, but controversy exists about whether such chief lived. Alternate explanations hypothesize that the name comes from "tu-wanda", the Goshute word for "bear", or from "tule", a Spanish word of Aztec origins meaning "bulrush" (Schoenoplectus).
Toole County Montana Named for Joseph Toole, Montana's first governor.
Toombs County Georgia Named for Robert Toombs, United States representative and senator.
Torrance County New Mexico Named for Francis J. Torrance, a promoter of the New Mexico Central Railroad.
Towner County North Dakota Named after Oscar M. Towner, a member of the United States House of Representatives.
Towns County Georgia Named for lawyer, legislator, and politician George W. Towns.
Traill County North Dakota Named after Walter John Strickland Traill, an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company and son of Canadian pioneer Catharine Parr Traill.[8]
Transylvania County North Carolina Derived from the Transylvania Company and has Latin origins: trans ("across") and silva or sylva ("woods").
Traverse County Minnesota Named for Lake Traverse
Travis County Texas Named in honor of William Barret Travis, commander of the Republic of Texas forces at the Battle of the Alamo.
Treasure County Montana From the state nickname of Montana, the "Treasure State", so called because of its gold and silver mines.
Trego County Kansas Named for Edgar Poe Trego of the 8th Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment, killed at the 1863 Battle of Chickamauga.[9]
Trempealeau County Wisconsin French fur traders were the first Europeans to enter this land. At the mouth of the Trempealeau River, which flows from northeast to southwest across the county on its way to the Mississippi River, they found a bluff surrounded by water and called it "La Montagne qui trempe à l'eau", which means "mountain with its foot in the water." The name was later shortened.[10]
Treutlen County Georgia Named for John A. Treutlen, Georgia's first state governor following adoption of the state Constitution of 1777.
Trigg County Kentucky Named for Stephen Trigg, a frontier officer in the American Revolutionary War who died in the Battle of Blue Licks.
Trimble County Kentucky Named for Robert Trimble, attorney, judge, and justice of the United States Supreme Court.
Trinity County California Named after the Trinity River, which was named in 1845 by Major Pierson B. Reading, who was under the mistaken impression that the river emptied into Trinidad Bay. Trinity is the English translation of Trinidad.
Trinity County Texas Named after the Trinity River (Texas).
Tripp County South Dakota Named for Bartlett Tripp.
Troup County Georgia Named for George Troup, thirty-fourth governor of Georgia, U.S. representative, and senator.
Trousdale County Tennessee Named for William Trousdale, Creek and Mexican–American War soldier and officer, state senator and Governor of Tennessee.
Trumbull County Ohio Named for Jonathan Trumbull, Governor of Connecticut, who once owned the land in the region.
Tualatai County American Samoa Tuālā, v. to put a canoe before the wind; n. the back of a sail.[11][12] The ‘tai’ suffix designates this county as being the Tuālā county on the side towards the sea, whereas Tuālā-uta is the Tuālā county on the side towards the land or inland.
Tucker County West Virginia Named after Henry St. George Tucker, Sr., a judge and Congressman from Williamsburg, Virginia.[13]
Tulare County California Named for Tulare Lake.
Tulsa County Oklahoma Named for Tulsa, Oklahoma, which takes its name from the Creek Tallasi, "old town."
Tunica County Mississippi Named for the Tunica Native Americans.
Tuolumne County California

The name Tuolumne is of Native American origin and has been given different meanings, such as Many Stone Houses, The Land of Mountain Lions and, Straight Up Steep, the latter an interpretation of William Fuller, a native Chief. Mariano Vallejo, in his report to the first California State Legislature, said that the word is "a corruption of the Miwok word talmalamne which signifies 'cluster of stone wigwams.'" The name may mean "people who dwell in stone houses", i.e., in caves.

Turner County Georgia Named for Henry G. Turner, U.S. representative and Georgia state Supreme Court justice.
Turner County South Dakota Named for John W. Turner.
Tuscaloosa County Alabama Named in honor of the pre-Choctaw chief Tuskaloosa.
Tuscarawas County Ohio The name is a Delaware word variously translated as "old town" or "open mouth".
Tuscola County Michigan Neologism created by Henry Schoolcraft.
Twiggs County Georgia Named for American Revolutionary War general John Twiggs.
Twin Falls County Idaho The county is named for a split waterfall on the Snake River of the same name. The Snake River is the county's northern boundary.
Tyler County Texas Named for John Tyler, the tenth President of the United States.
Tyler County West Virginia Named after John Tyler, Sr., father of President John Tyler.
Tyrrell County North Carolina Named for Sir John Tyrrell, one of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina.

U

[edit]
County name State Origin
Uinta County Wyoming Named for the Uinta(h), a Native American tribe associated with the Ute people.
Uintah County Utah
Ulster County New York Named for James, Duke of York (later King James II), who was also Earl of Ulster, a title derived from Ulster, the northern part of Ireland.
Umatilla County Oregon Named for the Umatilla River.
Unicoi County Tennessee Name is a Native American word for the southern Appalachian Mountains, probably meaning white or fog-draped.
Union County Arkansas Named in recognition of the 1829 citizens' petition for a new county, stating that they were petitioning "in the spirit of Union and Unity".
Union County Florida Named to honor the concept of unity.
Union County Georgia The Union Party, a political group that supported removing Native Americans from the area and opening it to white settlers, is the probable inspiration for the county's name.
Union County Illinois Named for a joint revival meeting of the Baptists and Dunkards, called a "union meeting".
Union County Indiana So named because it is the product of a union of parts of Fayette, Franklin and Wayne counties, as united into one county in 1821.
Union County Iowa Named in honour of the Union which the people wished to preserve at the time of founding (1853).
Union County Kentucky Named for the unanimous decision of the residents to unite together and create a new county.
Union County Mississippi This county was formed as a union of pieces of several other counties.
Union County New Jersey In reference to the Federal Union of the United States.
Union County New Mexico The county is named "Union" because the citizens, in 1893/94, were united in their desire for the creation of a new county out of three existing New Mexico counties.
Union County North Carolina Its name was a compromise between Whigs, who wanted to name the new county for Henry Clay, and Democrats, who wanted to name it for Andrew Jackson.
Union County Ohio The name is reflective of the county's origins, being the union of pieces of Franklin, Delaware, Madison, and Logan Counties.[14]
Union County Oregon The name, which is taken from the city of Union within the county's borders, references the Union states, or Northern States, of the American Civil War.[15]
Union County Pennsylvania The name is an allusion to the Federal Union.
Union County South Carolina Received its name from the old Union Church near Monarch Mill.
Union County South Dakota Originally named Cole County, the named was changed to Union because of Civil War sentiment.
Union County Tennessee Named either for its creation from parts of five counties or to memorialize East Tennessee's support for preservation of the Union in the years before the Civil War.
Union Parish Louisiana Reportedly took its name from a statement made by Daniel Webster: "liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable".
Upshur County Texas Named for Abel P. Upshur, who was U.S. Secretary of State during President John Tyler's administration.
Upshur County West Virginia
Upson County Georgia Named in honor of noted Georgia lawyer Stephen Upson.
Upton County Texas Named for brothers John C. and William F. Upton, both Colonels in the Confederate army.
Utah County Utah Named for the Spanish name (Yuta) for the Ute.
Uvalde County Texas Named for Juan de Ugalde, the Spanish governor of Coahuila.

V

[edit]
County name State Origin
Val Verde County Texas Named for the 1862 Civil War Battle of Val Verde (val verde meaning "green valley" in Spanish).
Valdez-Cordova Census Area Alaska The port of Valdez was named after the Spanish naval officer Antonio Valdés y Basán; Cordova after the city of Córdoba, Spain. Both namings were made by Spanish explorer Salvador Fidalgo in 1790.
Valencia County New Mexico Named for Valencia, New Mexico, named in turn for Valencia, Spain.
Valley County Idaho Named after the Long Valley of the North Fork of the Payette River.
Valley County Montana Named for the valley of the Milk River.
Valley County Nebraska Named after the geological features of the area.[16]
Van Buren County Arkansas Named for U.S. President Martin Van Buren (1782–1862).
Van Buren County Iowa
Van Buren County Michigan
Van Buren County Tennessee
Van Wert County Ohio Named for Isaac Van Wart, one of the captors of John André in the American Revolutionary War.[17]
Van Zandt County Texas Named for Isaac Van Zandt, a member of the Congress of the Republic of Texas.[18]
Vance County North Carolina Named for Zebulon Baird Vance, a Governor of North Carolina (1862–1865, 1877–1879) and United States senator (1879–1894).
Vanderburgh County Indiana Named for Henry Vanderburgh, a judge for Indiana Territory.
Venango County Pennsylvania The origin of the name "Venango" comes from the Native American name for the region, Onenge, meaning Otter. This was corrupted into English as the Venango River.[19]
Ventura County California From Mission San Buenaventura, named for Saint Bonaventure.
Vermilion County Illinois Named for the Vermilion River (Wabash River tributary).
Vermilion Parish Louisiana Named for Vermilion River (Louisiana).
Vermillion County Indiana Vermillion is named for the Vermilion River (Wabash River tributary).
Vernon County Missouri Named for Col. Miles Vernon (1786–1867), a state senator and veteran of the Battle of New Orleans.
Vernon County Wisconsin Named for Mount Vernon.
Vernon Parish Louisiana Various theories for the naming exist (see History of Vernon Parish)
Victoria County Texas Named for Guadalupe Victoria, the first President of Mexico.
Vigo County Indiana Named for Francis Vigo, an Italian tradesman from St. Louis who assisted George Rogers Clark's campaigns during the American Revolutionary War.
Vilas County Wisconsin Named for William Freeman Vilas, United States Senator (1891–1897).[20]
Vinton County Ohio Named for Samuel Finley Vinton, a 19th-century congressman from Ohio.[21]
City of Virginia Beach Virginia State of Virginia and its beach.
Volusia County Florida Named for Volusia, Florida, possibly derived from a name meaning "land of the Yuchi."

W

[edit]
County name State Origin
Wabash County Illinois Named for the Wabash River, from the Miami-Illinois waapaahšiiki, "it shines white."
Wabash County Indiana
Wabasha County Minnesota Named for the Mdewakanton Dakota mixed-blood (with Anishinaabe) chiefs Wapi-sha (wáȟpe šá - leaf red), father (1718–1806), son (1768–1855), and grandson (±1816-1876) of the same name.
Wabaunsee County Kansas Named for Waubonsie, a Potawatomi chief.
Wadena County Minnesota Named for the Wadena trading post, named for an Ojibwe chief.
Wagoner County Oklahoma Named for Henry "Bigfoot" Wagoner, a Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad dispatcher.
Wahkiakum County Washington Named for Chief Wahkiakum ("Tall Timber") of the Chinook.
Wake County North Carolina Named for Margaret Wake Tryon, wife of William Tryon, who served as the Colonial Governor of North Carolina and the Colonial Governor of New York.
Wakulla County Florida Named for the Wakulla River, named for a Muscogee chief.
Waldo County Maine Named for Samuel Waldo, merchant and political figure.
Walker County Alabama Named for John Williams Walker, U.S. Senator.
Walker County Georgia Named for Freeman Walker, politician.
Walker County Texas Robert J. Walker; "renamed" in honor of Samuel Hamilton Walker (no relation)
Walla Walla County Washington Named for the Walla Walla (Waluulapam) people.
Wallace County Kansas Named for W. H. L. Wallace, Union general in the Civil War.
Waller County Texas Named for Edwin Waller, entrepreneur and town planner.
Wallowa County Oregon Named for the Wallowa River, from Nez Perce wil-le-wah, "winding water" or "fishing weir."
Walsh County North Dakota Named for George H. Walsh, newspaper editor and politician.
Walthall County Mississippi Named for Edward C. Walthall, Confederate general.
Walton County Florida Named for Colonel George Walton, Jr., secretary of the Florida Territory.
Walton County Georgia Named for George Walton, signatory to the Declaration of Independence.
Walworth County South Dakota Named for Walworth County, Wisconsin.
Walworth County Wisconsin Named for Reuben H. Walworth, lawyer, jurist and politician.
Wapello County Iowa Named for Wapello, Meskwaki (Fox) chief.
Ward County North Dakota Named for Mark Ward, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Counties.
Ward County Texas Named for Thomas W. Ward, soldier and politician.
Ware County Georgia Named for Nicholas Ware, politician.
Warren County Georgia Named for Joseph Warren, Revolutionary War leader.
Warren County Illinois
Warren County Indiana
Warren County Iowa
Warren County Kentucky
Warren County Mississippi
Warren County Missouri
Warren County New Jersey
Warren County New York
Warren County North Carolina
Warren County Ohio
Warren County Pennsylvania
Warren County Tennessee
Warren County Virginia
Warrick County Indiana Named for Jacob Warrick, a notable soldier of the Battle of Tippecanoe.
Wasatch County Utah From a Ute word for "mountain pass."
Wasco County Oregon Named for the Wasco people.
Waseca County Minnesota Named for Waseca, Minnesota, from a Dakota word meaning "rich."
Washakie County Wyoming Named for Washakie, a Shoshone chief.
Washburn County Wisconsin Named for Cadwallader C. Washburn, Governor of Wisconsin.
Washington County Alabama Named for George Washington, first President of the United States.
Washington County Arkansas
Washington County Colorado
Washington County Florida
Washington County Georgia
Washington County Idaho
Washington County Illinois
Washington County Indiana
Washington County Iowa
Washington County Kansas
Washington County Kentucky
Washington County Maine
Washington County Maryland
Washington County Minnesota
Washington County Mississippi
Washington County Missouri
Washington County Nebraska
Washington County New York
Washington County North Carolina
Washington County Ohio
Washington County Oklahoma
Washington County Oregon
Washington County Pennsylvania
Washington County Rhode Island
Washington County Tennessee
Washington County Texas
Washington County Utah
Washington County Vermont
Washington County Virginia
Washington County Wisconsin
Washington Parish Louisiana
Washita County Oklahoma Named for the Washita River, which was mistook by explorers for the Ouachita River, named for the Ouachita people.
Washoe County Nevada Named for the Washoe people.[22]
Washtenaw County Michigan From O-wash-ta-nong ("far away water"), the Ojibwe name for the Grand River.
Watauga County North Carolina Named for the Watauga River.
Watonwan County Minnesota Named for the Watonwan River, from Dakota watanwan meaning "fish bait" or "plenty of fish."
Waukesha County Wisconsin Named for the city of Waukesha, Wisconsin, from Waagoshag (Wau-tsha), the leader of a local tribe.
Waupaca County Wisconsin From wau-pa-ka-ho-nak, a Menominee word meaning "white sand bottom" or "brave young hero."
Waushara County Wisconsin From a Winnebago term meaning "good earth."
Wayne County Georgia Named for Revolutionary War general Anthony Wayne.
Wayne County Illinois
Wayne County Iowa
Wayne County Kentucky
Wayne County Michigan
Wayne County Mississippi
Wayne County Missouri
Wayne County Nebraska
Wayne County New York
Wayne County North Carolina
Wayne County Ohio
Wayne County Pennsylvania
Wayne County Tennessee
Wayne County Utah Named for Wayne County, Tennessee.
Wayne County West Virginia Named for Revolutionary War general Anthony Wayne.
City of Waynesboro Virginia
Weakley County Tennessee Named for U.S. Representative Robert Weakley.
Webb County Texas Named for James Webb, who served as Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of State, and Attorney General of the Republic of Texas
Weber County Utah Named for the Weber River, which was named for fur trapper John Henry Weber.
Webster County Georgia Named for Daniel Webster, politician.
Webster County Iowa
Webster County Kentucky
Webster County Mississippi
Webster County Missouri
Webster County Nebraska
Webster County West Virginia
Webster Parish Louisiana
Weld County Colorado Named for Lewis Ledyard Weld, designer of the Seal of Colorado who died while serving in the Union Army during the Civil War.
Wells County Indiana Named for Captain William A. Wells, a scout for General "Mad" Anthony Wayne.
Wells County North Dakota Named for Edward Payson Wells, banker and early promoter of the James River Valley.
West Baton Rouge Parish Louisiana Named for Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which is from French bâton rouge ("red stick"), a translation of Choctaw iti humma, referring to red poles used as boundary markers.
West Carroll Parish Louisiana Named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence.
West Feliciana Parish Louisiana Originally part of Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, from Spanish Feliciana ("happy land") and in honor of Marie Félicité St. Maxent, wife of Bernardo de Gálvez, 1st Viscount of Galveston.
Westchester County New York Named for Chester, England.
Westmoreland County Pennsylvania Named for Westmorland, England.
Westmoreland County Virginia
Weston County Wyoming Named for Jefferson B. Weston, geologist and surveyor.
Wetzel County West Virginia Named for Lewis Wetzel, frontiersman.
Wexford County Michigan Named for County Wexford, Ireland.
Wharton County Texas Named for William H. Wharton and John Austin Wharton, brothers and Republic of Texas leaders.
Whatcom County Washington Named for Whatcom (Xwotʼqom), a Nooksack chief.
Wheatland County Montana Named for its wheat production.
Wheeler County Georgia Named for Joseph Wheeler, Confederate general and, after the Civil War, a U.S. Army general.
Wheeler County Nebraska Named for Daniel H. Wheeler, secretary of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture
Wheeler County Oregon Named for Henry H. Wheeler, early settler.
Wheeler County Texas Named for Royall T. Wheeler, judge.
White County Arkansas Named for Hugh Lawson White, a Whig candidate for President of the United States.
White County Georgia Named for David T. White, local politician.
White County Illinois Named for Leonard White, politician and soldier.
White County Indiana Named for Isaac White, a soldier who was killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe.
White County Tennessee Named for John White, Revolutionary War soldier and the first white settler in the county.
White Pine County Nevada Named for the Rocky Mountain white pine (limber pine, Pinus flexilis), a common tree in the county.
Whiteside County Illinois Named for Samuel Whiteside, pioneer.
Whitfield County Georgia Named for George Whitefield, Evangelical cleric.
Whitley County Indiana Named for Colonel William Whitley, who was killed in the War of 1812.
Whitley County Kentucky Named for William Whitley, pioneer.
Whitman County Washington Named for Marcus Whitman, physician and pioneer.
Wibaux County Montana Named for Pierre Wibaux, rancher.
Wichita County Kansas Named for the Wichita people.
Wichita County Texas
Wicomico County Maryland Named for the Wicomico River, from Lenape wicko-mekee, "place where houses are built."
Wilbarger County Texas Named for Josiah Pugh Wilbarger and Mathias Wilbarger, early settler.
Wilcox County Alabama Named for Joseph M. Wilcox, soldier.
Wilcox County Georgia Named for Mark Wilcox, Georgia state legislator and one of the founders of the Georgia Supreme Court.
Wilkes County Georgia Named for John Wilkes, British radical, journalist and politician.
Wilkes County North Carolina
Wilkin County Minnesota Named for Alexander Wilkin, soldier.
Wilkinson County Georgia Named for James Wilkinson, soldier and statesman.
Wilkinson County Mississippi
Will County Illinois Named for Dr. Conrad Will, businessman and politician.
Willacy County Texas Named for John G. Willacy, politician.
Williams County North Dakota Named for Erastus Appleman Williams, politician.
Williams County Ohio Named for David Williams, Revolutionary War soldier.
City of Williamsburg Virginia Named for King William III of England.
Williamsburg County South Carolina
Williamson County Illinois Named for Williamson County, Tennessee, from which the first white settlers came.
Williamson County Tennessee Named for U.S. Representative Hugh Williamson.
Williamson County Texas Named for Robert McAlpin Williamson, Texas Ranger and judge.
Wilson County Kansas Named for Hiero Tennant Wilson, merchant.
Wilson County North Carolina Named for Louis Dicken Wilson, U.S. Army general.
Wilson County Tennessee Named for David Wilson, a member of the legislatures of North Carolina and the Southwest Territory.
Wilson County Texas Named for James Charles Wilson, early settler.
City of Winchester Virginia Named for Winchester, England, birthplace of Colonel James Wood, who laid out the community's original plan and served as the first court clerk
Windham County Connecticut Named for the town of Windham, Connecticut, which itself is named after the village of Windham (now Wineham), Sussex.
Windham County Vermont Named for Windham, Vermont, named in turn for Windham, Connecticut, which was named for Wineham (Wyndham), Sussex, England (from Old English Winda-hamm, "Winda's water meadow").
Windsor County Vermont Named for Windsor, Vermont, named in turn for Windsor, Connecticut, which was named for Windsor, Berkshire, England (from Old English Windles-ore, "winch by the riverside").
Winkler County Texas Named for Clinton McKamy Winkler, Confederate colonel.
Winn Parish Louisiana Named for Walter Winn, state legislator.
Winnebago County Illinois Named for the Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) people.
Winnebago County Iowa
Winnebago County Wisconsin
Winneshiek County Iowa Named for Winneshiek, a Ho-Chunk chief.[23]
Winona County Minnesota Named for Winona, legendary Dakota woman.
Winston County Alabama Named for John A. Winston, 15th Governor of Alabama.
Winston County Mississippi Named for Louis Winston, militia colonel and judge.
Wirt County West Virginia Named for William Wirt, U.S. Attorney General.
Wise County Texas Named for Henry A. Wise, Confederate general and later politician.
Wise County Virginia
Wolfe County Kentucky Named for Nathaneal Wolfe, a member of the legislative assembly.
Wood County Ohio Named for Eleazer D. Wood, soldier.
Wood County Texas Named for George Tyler Wood, second Governor of Texas.
Wood County West Virginia Named for James Wood, 11th Governor of Virginia.
Wood County Wisconsin Named for Joseph Wood, pioneer and politician.
Woodbury County Iowa Named for Levi Woodbury, judge and politician.
Woodford County Illinois Named for Woodford County, Kentucky, home of many of the first pioneers.
Woodford County Kentucky Named for William Woodford, Revolutionary War general.
Woodruff County Arkansas Named for William E. Woodruff, publisher and politician.
Woods County Oklahoma Named for Samuel Newitt Wood, attorney, politician, and Free State advocate.
Woodson County Kansas Named for Daniel Woodson, Acting Territorial Governor of Kansas.
Woodward County Oklahoma Named for either Brinton W. Woodward, a Santa Fe Railway director, or bison hunter, teamster, and eventually local saddle-maker Richard "Uncle Dick" Woodward.
Worcester County Maryland Named for Mary Arundell, the wife of Sir John Somerset, a son of Henry Somerset, 1st Marquess of Worcester.
Worcester County Massachusetts Named for Worcester, England.
Worth County Georgia Named for Major General William J. Worth.
Worth County Iowa
Worth County Missouri
Wright County Iowa Named for Silas Wright, attorney and politician.
Wright County Minnesota
Wright County Missouri
Wyandot County Ohio Named for the Wyandot (Huron) people.
Wyandotte County Kansas
Wyoming County New York From a Lenape word meaning "broad bottom lands".
Wyoming County Pennsylvania Named for the Wyoming Valley.
Wyoming County West Virginia From a Lenape word meaning "broad bottom lands".
Wythe County Virginia Named for George Wythe, judge.

Y

[edit]
County name State Origin
Yadkin County North Carolina Named for the Yadkin River which is derived from Yattken, or Yattkin, a Siouan. The meaning of the word is unknown but it may mean "big tree" or "place of big trees" in a Siouan language.
Yakima County Washington Named after the Yakama people.
Yakutat City and Borough Alaska From the Tlingit name Yaakwdáat, meaning "the place where canoes rest", although it may originally derive from an Eyak name which has been lost.
Yalobusha County Mississippi Yalobusha is a Native American word meaning "tadpole place".
Yamhill County Oregon Origin of name uncertain, but probably from an explorer's name for a local Native American tribe, the Yamhill, who are part of the North Kalapuyan family.
Yancey County North Carolina Named in honor of Bartlett Yancey, U.S. Congressman (1813–1817) and speaker of the N.C. Senate (1817–1827).
Yankton County South Dakota Named for the Yankton tribe of Nakota (Sioux).
Yates County New York Yates County is named in honor of Joseph C. Yates, seventh governor of New York (1823–1824).
Yavapai County Arizona Named after the Yavapai people, who were the main inhabitants of the area at the time of annexation by the United States.
Yazoo County Mississippi Named for the Yazoo River.
Yell County Arkansas Named after Archibald Yell, the state's first member of the United States House of Representatives and the second governor of Arkansas; he later fell in combat at the Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican–American War.
Yellow Medicine County Minnesota From the Yellow Medicine River, which takes its name from a calque of pajutazee, the Dakota name for the bitter root of the moonseed plant (Menispermum canadense).
Yellowstone County Montana Named for the Yellowstone River which roughly bisects the county from southwest to northeast.[24]
Yoakum County Texas Named for Henderson King Yoakum, a Texas historian.
Yolo County California Yolo is a Native American name variously believed to be a corruption of a tribal name Yo-loy meaning "a place abounding in rushes" or of the name of the chief Yodo or of the village of Yodoi.
York County Maine In 1664, what had been the province of Maine was given a grant by Charles II of England to James, Duke of York. Under the terms of this patent the territory was incorporated into Cornwall County, part of the Province of New York. The patent to James for this territory was renewed in 1674 and survives in York County.
York County Nebraska Either named after the city of York in England or for York County in Pennsylvania.[25]
York County Pennsylvania Named either for the Duke of York, an early patron of the Penn family, or for the city and shire of York in England.
York County South Carolina Named for Yorkshire, England.
York County Virginia Named for the city of York in Northern England.
Young County Texas The county is named for William Cocke Young, an early Texas settler and soldier.[26]
Yuba County California Named after the Yuba River for the Native American village Yubu, Yupu or Juba near the confluence of the Yuba and Feather rivers, or for the quantities of wild grapes (uvas silvestres in Spanish) growing on its banks.
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area Alaska The Yukon River and one of its major tributaries, the Koyukuk River, whose respective drainages comprise the vast majority of the census area's land mass.
Yuma County Arizona Named for the Quechan (Yuma) indigenous people.
Yuma County Colorado Yuma County is named for the town of Yuma, Colorado, which itself was supposedly named for a Quechan railroad worker (or a man named "Yuma") who died near the town while building a line for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad.

Z

[edit]
County name State Origin
Zapata County Texas Named after Colonel Jose Antonio de Zapata, a rancher who rebelled against Mexico in 1839.[27]
Zavala County Texas Named after Lorenzo de Zavala, Mexican politician and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.[28]
Ziebach County South Dakota Named after local leader Frank M. Ziebach.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Jack Martin and Margaret McKane Mauldin, A Dictionary of Creek/Muskogee (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2000), s.vv. "Tvlvtēke", "Talladega."
  2. ^ "TSHA | Tarrant County".
  3. ^ Idaho.gov - Teton County Archived 2009-08-15 at the Wayback Machine accessed 2010-05-24
  4. ^ "Thayer County". Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2010-03-19. Accessed 2010-05-24.
  5. ^ "Thomas County". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-03-19. Accessed 2010-05-24.
  6. ^ "Thurston County". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-03-15. Accessed 2010-05-24.
  7. ^ "Origin of Todd County, Kentucky – Kentucky Genealogy".
  8. ^ "North Dakota government county history page". Archived from the original on 2015-02-02. Retrieved 2010-05-24.
  9. ^ ""HERE LIES CAPTAIN TREGO"".
  10. ^ Elkins, Winston (1985). Trempealeau and the Mississippi River Dam. Trempealeau County, Wisconsin: Trempealeau County Historical Society, p.1
  11. ^ Tregear, E. (1891). The Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary. Netherlands: Lyon and Blair.
  12. ^ Pratt, G. (1862). Samoan Dictionary: English and Samoan, and Samoan and English, with a Short Grammar of the Samoan Dialect. American Samoa: London Missionary Society's Press.
  13. ^ "Tucker County history sources". Archived from the original on 2010-02-20. Retrieved 2010-03-19. West Virginia Division of Culture and History – Tucker County History web page, accessed 2010-05-24
  14. ^ "Union County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Archived from the original on October 29, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  15. ^ Deumling, Dietrich (May 1972). The roles of the railroad in the development of the Grande Ronde Valley (masters thesis). Flagstaff, Arizona: Northern Arizona University. OCLC 4383986.
  16. ^ "Valley County". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-03-19. Retrieved on March 14, 2008.
  17. ^ "Van Wert County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Archived from the original on December 3, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  18. ^ History of Van Zandt County (Van Zandt County History Book Committee. Dallas, Texas: 1984)
  19. ^ Donehoo, George (1995). "French Creek". Indian Villages and Place Names in Pennsylvania. Gateway Press. Retrieved 24 Jan 2007.
  20. ^ "Vilas County History". Archived from the original on 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
  21. ^ "Vinton County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  22. ^ "History of Washoe County" (PDF). Wilbur D. May Center.
  23. ^ "About Winneshiek County". Winneshiek County. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  24. ^ "Montana Digital Atlas – Montana Natural Resources Information System". Montana State Library, State of Montana. Archived from the original on 2007-07-15. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
  25. ^ "York County". Archived from the original on 2008-08-19. Retrieved 2010-03-19. Retrieved on March 15, 2008.
  26. ^ "Young, William Cocke". The Handbook of Texas Online. The Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  27. ^ "Handbook of Texas Online: Zapata County". University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
  28. ^ "Handbook of Texas Online: Zavala County". University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 2007-10-17.

See also

[edit]